Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary
# Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary

Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary is a sanctuary for birds, 759 $km^2$ in area, located in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh and a protected area of the Thiruvallur District of Tamil Nadu, India. Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish-water eco-system in India after Chilka lake in Orissa. The sanctuary's international name is Pulicat Lake Wildlife Sanctuary (IBA Code: IN261, Criteria: A1, A4iii).

## Geography

Central location is: 13°34′N 80°12′E﻿ / ﻿13.567°N 80.200°E﻿ / 13.567; 80.200. 327.33 $km^2$ is managed by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department and 153.67 $km^2$ is managed by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. 108 $km^2$ is a National Park area. Rainfall ranges from 800–2000 mm. Temperature varies from 14°C to 33°C. Altitude ranges from 100’ above mean sea level to 1200’ above mean sea level.

## Fauna

The sanctuary has many greater flamingos. It also attracts many migratory birds and also is a feeding and nesting ground for aquatic and terrestrial birds such as pelicans, storks, etc. The biodiversity of this lake attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors per year.

## Threats

Pulicat Lake may disappear within 100 years by being filled up with silt. Efforts by government and private non-governmental organizations are working to halt lake destruction. The Art & Architecture Research, Development and Education (AARDE) Foundation does regular activities at Pazhaverkadu to create awareness on the vanishing lagoon.

